Luxury Living Blog

Welcome to our luxury living blog. Here you will find information on exotic cars, luxury car rentals, top 5 and top 10 lists, luxury news, events, stories of unbelievable wealth and much more. You can find out what the most expensive entrees and drinks are, and even read up on some bizarre foods. We scan the globe to discover what the latest luxury news holds, and pass on our plethora of knowledge and tips to our awesome readers and fan base. Hear of something exotic and interesting? Drop us an email and tell us about it! Where money is spent, the world is watching.

The Aston Martin Vulcan is the latest high-performance offering from the badge with a $2.3 million dollar asking price and a rather exclusive production run of just 24 units. The new member of the fleet has not only a prestigious family behind it, but also a special driver training course commencing in 2016 to teach owners to operate the Vulcan properly and to her highest abilities.

The Aston Martin Vulcan owners will be offered the opportunity to train with experienced racing drivers on some of the world’s most prestigious tracks in order to fully grasp how to properly drive, control and unleash the Vulcan’s abilities. Even thought the Vulcan’s multi-million dollar price bracket is much higher than her $200k-$400k siblings, it is unlikely that these elite training courses are included in the asking price. The courses are intended to “Support owners on their learning journey”, according to the brand, and there will also be simulation training offered for owners. So why the extra care in regards to driving this car when some of the other Aston Martin cars are quite powerful?

The Coventry Speedback GT by David Brown Automotive is a breath of new air hitting the automotive circuit. The asking price of $925,000+ has failed to terrify potential buyers, as orders have already been placed for the trendy ride.

At first glance, the Coventry Speedback GT looks rather like the product of an Aston Martin/Jaguar one-night stand. The unique features that mold her final personality also lend a sense of classic cars from the past with a touch of elegance. The nice lady has had a full year of touring automotive shows across Europe and is potentially poised to invite flirtations from a larger market base.

The Coventry Speedback GT at a glance:

Under her diminutive hood lurks a thirsty 5.0-liter V8 engine. With the power and appearances, the Speedback GT is certainly every inch supercar material.

With such a svelte form and robust engine, she nails the 0-60 mile per hour sprint in an impressive 4.8 seconds. Top speed is somewhat less than expected, limited at 155 miles per hour. Though her intended owners are the metropolitan types, so while it is nice to own a machine with an insanely high top speed to boast about— most city drivers know that the opportunity to ever take a car up to their potential speeds without reserving track time is…well…a bit of a pipe dream!

That distinctive Jaguar vibe stems from the Jaguar XKR chassis. It was stripped bare and rebuilt using just the lower section, though it is difficult to mask in the finished product.

Each unit consumes an estimated 3,000 man-hours to create, with just 10 people managing the process. From hand-formed panels to custom leather interiors, the Speedback GT is every inch bespoke.

Alan Mobberly, who has had a hand in projects with Peugeot, Land Rover and Austin Morris, designed the Speedback GT.

Interested parties should note that just 100 units of the Coventry Speedback GT are scheduled for the production run.

Fans of the dynamic Lamborghini Aventador roadster LP700-4 will appreciate her drop-top styling, just perhaps not her lofty price demands. Interested parties already know that they shall shell forth approximately $450k in order to grip the wheel of the convertible Aventador. My verdict: worth it.

Do not have $450k? No worries–the Lamborghini Aventador coupe is roughly $60k less.

Owning a machine like the award-winning Lamborghini Aventador is a privilege. When something important like the Aventador emerges, often a slew of special edition and roadster siblings are created. While it is impossible to predict what she will be valued at far into the future, it seems like a safe bet that even at almost a half a million dollars, it is a good investment. It is also a good track car, for those interested in adrenaline rather than collecting…just putting that little slice of information out there. With 700+ horsepower and improved aerodynamics and handling, taking the Lamborghini Aventador to a track is every driver’s dream.

The Lamborghini Aventador roadster at a glance:

Her underpinnings include a lightweight carbon fiber chassis paired with carbon and aluminum components

She is not exactly a dainty lady—tipping the scales at 4,200 pounds. But with a hefty pack of horses in her stable, she is certainly powerful, even if her mass is of Bentley proportions.

How does she do it? A ridiculously potent 6.5-liter V12 engine redlining at 8500.

The Aventador convertible nails the 0-60 mile per hour jump in 3 seconds flat with a top speed of 217+ miles per hour

The one-off Lamborghini Aventador J sold for $2.8 million, making her siblings appear more attainable.

In the end, the convertible versions of most exotic sports cars and even standard cars are typically more expensive. People are willing to pay more to be seen in them and they are amazingly fun vehicles to drive.

We have fantastic news for fans of newbie automakers: Remember Spanish company GTA Spania with their GTA Spano concept from back in 2009? It seems the newbies are all geared up and prepared to unleash the latest version of her at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show! The kicker: Now the Spano GTA is rumored to be packing a hefty 925 horses in her stables, putting her on level with the likes of LaFerrari and a select few others.

GTA Spania has been producing the GTA Spano on a per-order basis over the past few years, but this new mega version is something to be thrilled about. Let us take a peek at the new trimmings and tunings we can expect from the latest version next month:

The revised GTA Spano at a glance:

Word is that this lady is wearing ultra-lightweight carbon fiber to reduce curb weight as well as Kevlar and titanium. Graphene has also been added to the construction mix.

Power has been tweaked and tuned as follows: The GTA Spano V10 engine has been derived from the Dodge Viper and hit with dual turbos. It is now an 8.0 rather than the standard 8.4-liter.

The nice lady now rips forth approximately 925 horses and 900 lb-ft of glorious torque.

Early estimates place her at a 0-60 mile per hour sprint of 2.9 seconds with a top out of 230 miles per hour. It seems that with such an overstuffed stable of horses, she could catapult up to the 60 mile per hour mark a second or more faster, but it appears that may require a bit more revising in the aerodynamics arena.

The previous version boasts a top speed of 217 miles per hour.

GTA Spania has been busy teasing the world with their latest beauty prior to the Geneva show. At this juncture they are tempting with shots of her derriere and taillights. Interested parties should note that just 99 units are to be produced of this robust she-beast!

The very last Bugatti Veyron has been sold. Named the Bugatti Veyron La Finale, she was the final unit the 450 car production run that spanned over a decade. True to form, the brand has been dragging out the closing of the Veyron chapter in dramatic fashion. Who can blame them–goodbyes are never easy!

According to Bugatti brand president Wolfgang Duerheimer: “An unprecedented chapter in automotive history has reached its climax. Even 10 years after its market launch, the Veyron remains unique in many respects.”

Want to get up close and personal with the Bugatti Veyron La Finale? Let’s keep the mystery up and unleash it at the Geneva Motor Show next month.

The last of the 450 Bugatti Veyrons crafted was officially sold to a buyer located in the Middle East (Yes, big shocker there). The buyer has not ventured forth and identified him or herself at this juncture–though this hot score will not be a secret for long. I say this because those purchasing an exquisite machine like a Veyron will drive it, at some point, and word will get out faster than the car can hit 100 miles per hour. The Veyron is a beast of a machine, but it is also tame enough to roll out to regular events in style. This is why the versatile exotic sports car is so coveted by the select few able to indulge in her glory.

Overall, of the Bugatti Veyron production run, roughly a quarter were delivered in the United States and half found homes in European countries. The remaining numbers were dispersed elsewhere around the globe. The La Finale Veyron brought the long-running daydream to a fitting close, as she is a convertible Grand Sport Vitesse housing 1,200 well-heeled horses. The nice lady will take the stage to bid adieu at the Geneva Motor Show next month, possibly alongside some potential Veyron successor concepts. The Geneva Show is an excellent space for companies to gauge consumer responses to possible new products, so testing out the next concepts is fairly likely and would be a slam dunk.

The creative Mercedes-Benz G63 6×6 rolled onto the scene back in 2013 on her 6 wheels. The typical rumor topics swirled, including pricing, specs and number of units. Against all odds, 100 units of the G63 6×6 have sold in just two years…at $400,000+ each!

Initially, Mercedes-Benz approached the idea with supreme caution, creating just two units and gauging customer demand. That demand ended up being quite large for the interesting vehicle, with orders pouring in regardless of the high price tag. It seems that vehicles with a distinct sense of style and personality tend to attract and maintain a steady fanbase: Think Land Rover, Jeep and now the Mercedes-Benz G63 6×6. So why in the world is the brand pulling the plug on the model after unloading 100 units? It could just be a case of quitting while ahead. It is not clear if Mercedes-Benz will accept special orders for the 6×6 at anytime down the road.

Reviewing the Mercedes-Benz G63 6×6:

She boasts a lively personality perched on 6 wheels rather than the standard 4. To make that more impressive, the wheels are 37-inches.

5 differential locks

Power is derived from a twin-turbo 5.5-liter V8

536 bhp

The military version gets a 3-liter V6 diesel variant

The shortest Mercedes-Benz production run ever? Meet the G63 6×6!

For those still hoping to see more tough off-roaders from the brand, it has been reported that Mercedes-Benz will be open to producing the recently revealed G500 4×4. Some say the G500 4×4 is but a smaller version of the G63 6×6 drama queen. It will be interesting to see which direction the carmaker takes with the concepts in the future, as they have a well-rounded fleet of offerings on the market currently.

For those who have not noticed, Audi is positioning itself as the car for the young affluent types. One would have to be blind not to see the spicy Audi R8 supercar serving as the ride of choice of frontrunners like Iron Man and Christian Grey in the Fifty Shades of Grey erotic thriller. Exotic meets erotic meets superhero? Tie me up…err…sign me up! Audi appears to like the domination approach, taking over the headlines and jockeying for that special spot as the top choice for wealthy youth. Check out the Audi commercial below, designed to coincide with the premier of the Fifty Shades of Grey movie recently:
So why is Audi taking this approach on the market when competitors like BMW and Mercedes-Benz are strategically targeting the more mature drivers? With the three brands in constant competition and also the top three tiers on the market, it would seem that Audi is eager to set their brand apart from the traditional standards. While those who could afford flashy luxury cars and the entire lifestyle have typically been members of the older crowd in the past, there is a new generation of young entrepreneurs. These young wealthy types are just as eager to separate themselves from previous norms by driving different things—and that is why Audi’s doors are wide open!

Overall, the somewhat understated but still very smooth appearance of the Audi R8 appeals and works on many levels to serve the targeted marks. Would Iron Man look as cool rolling around in a red Ferrari competing with his red superhero suit? Nah. And would the billionaire Christian Grey type character work well with a plethora of exotic sports cars? Yes. But have they all been covered, coveted and recovered for decades? Precisely. The R8 is new and it is different, and now that it has found where it belongs, it can look forward to a long, sexy and successful future.

The role of Christian Grey was carefully cast, as was the part of Audi.

Most would gasp audibly at the idea of shelling forth approximately $41k for an exhaust system for their car. That theory is somewhat altered when the car in question is the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse and the exhaust is one specially crafted by aftermarket gurus at QuickSilver. Is this the most expensive exhaust system? Let us know if you see one demanding more!

The tuners at QuickSilver are offering a specialty exhaust system for the Veyron Vitesse crafted with exquisite titanium to deliver what is promised to be a distinctively robust and aggressive acoustic in comparison to the standard. It would certainly seem that this is an aftermarket tuner quite comfortable in their abilities—nothing else explains the comfort in attempting to make improvements on such a top-notch machine. Take a listen to the video below and decide how the exhaust sounds in comparison to the standard:

The QuickSilver exhaust is said to be the first-ever offering for the Bugatti Veyron, and also half the weight of the original factory system. The added advantage of even a little reduction in curb weight leads to extra power, making it a welcome perk to those interested in tuning their Veyrons.

Customizing the exterior and cabin of a Bugatti Veyron is quite common…but her powertrain? Some say it is insane, some say she sounds stunning.

Overall, the Bugatti Veyron is one of those automobiles that roll out of production in perfect form. The mere idea of altering her powertrain has the potential to make many gasp as loud as the asking price of the aftermarket exhaust does! Yet, it is definitely worth it to some, and it would be interesting to get the numbers in a few years of exactly how many orders were processed for this by QuickSilver. The timing is aligned with the end of the production run of the mighty Veyron, set to make her grand goodbye at this year’s Geneva Motor Show.

The all-new blisteringly fast Ferrari 488 GTB has arrived, and with it, plenty of jabs at the brand’s naming process. Poised to challenge the McLaren 650S and others, the 488 GTB may have a confusing name that fails to fall in line with the 458 it replaces, but she is certainly a beauty and worth worship. The shocker: This nice lady is the first turbocharged Horse, bearing two of the kickers.

Introducing the newest Prancing Horse: The Ferrari 488 GTB

Without further ado, let us examine the components of the Ferrari 488 GTB:

She is boasting a rather modest 3.9-liter V8 engine. The new power is boosted by two turbos for an output of 661bhp.

It achieves the 0-60 mile per hour sprint in a scant 3.0 seconds and unfurls to a top speed of over 205 miles per hour. For comparison purposes, a stripped Ferrari 458 Speciale can do the same, but the 488 is a second faster than the Speciale in the 0-124 mile per hour range, with a time of 8.3 seconds.

At Ferrari’s Fiorano test track, the 488 GTB hit a time of 1m23s flat, making it half a second faster than the Speciale and two full seconds faster than the standard 458 Italia or the Enzo.

The dry weight without any fluids or a standard sized driver is 1370kg, which is 10kg lighter than the 458 Italia, even with those turbos latched on.

Lightweight materials and those flat, arrow-like aerodynamics make all of the difference in the power arena. It is reminiscent of a squished-down 458 Italia, maintaining many of the styling cues.

Overall, Ferrari sums up its latest achievement as follows: “The 488 GTB provides track-level performance that can be enjoyed to the full even by non-professional drivers.” We all look forward to seeing more from the 488 GTB and the upcoming McLaren 675 LT at the Geneva Motor Show next month.

McLaren has been busy taunting the next beast prior to the Geneva Motor Show reveal. The McLaren 675LT is poised to challenge the next-generation of Ferrari supercars and other leading competitors with the devilish rumble of a 666-note exhaust (the number of horses the nice lady packs in her stables). Check out the sound clip below:

The short video clip above gives a teaser on the sound of the upcoming McLaren 675LT track-focused monster is not a bad way to spend 10 seconds. Fun fact: The ‘LT’ on the name stands for longtail

The McLaren 675LT at a glance:

It is to be geared for the track and feature enhancements over the McLaren 650S predecessor from last year.

She will be packing in the power department with a nice and thirsty 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8.

For the time being, it will only be offered in coupe form. If the model is a success, it is not too far to venture a spider version, as the 650S is offered in both convertible and coupe versions.

Tweaks include a revised body for a 40% increase in downforce and the shiny dual titanium exhaust heard in the clip above.

More information will emerge next month at the annual Geneva Motor Show.

The McLaren 675LT has rather large treads to fill to match the beauty of the McLaren 650S. It is likely she is much more than just a lady with ample acoustic stylings.

Overall, the McLaren 675LT will work to create an aggressive new member of the family, which already includes the McLaren 650S and 625C (Asian markets) and, of course, the awe-inspiring McLaren P1. Competitor Ferrari is already poised to respond with the 488 GTB unveil also coming up soon. Stay tuned for in-depth coverage of the 85th annual Geneva Motor Show starting March 3rd, 2015!